Trim and seal assemblies for vehicle with slide out room and method of manufacture

Abstract

A mobile structure, such as a recreational vehicle, that includes a wall having first and second opposed surfaces and an edge surface. The edge surface defines an opening through the wall. A slide-out room or other enclosure is moveably located in the opening. A trim member having an integral seal is attached at the opening and the seal is engageable with a flange on the enclosure. A second trim member has an integrally attached flexible member projecting outwardly therefrom. The flexible member engages the enclosure and wipes moisture and debris from the enclosure as it is moved into a retracted position with the mobile structure. The two trim members have an overlapping portion with the opening and can be simultaneously secured to the wall by driving a mechanical fastener through the overlapped portions of the trim members. A method of manufacturing such mobile structures is also provided.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 630,722, filed Nov. 24, 2004, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to recreational vehicles with slide out rooms and, more particularly, to the trim assemblies and sealing members used with such slide out rooms.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]To permit their transport over the public highway system, recreational vehicles and other forms of mobile living quarters have a limited width. When such vehicles are parked, however, their width is no longer limited and it becomes desirable to enlarge the useable space within the vehicle. As a result, it has become common to equip such vehicles with “slide-out” rooms that can be withdrawn into the vehicle during transport over the public highway system and extended to provide additional living space when t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]An advantage of the present invention is that by providing a seal member integrally formed with a trim member, the seal member is more reliably attached to the trim member and will have an extended life.

[0016]Another advantage is that by providing a flexible projection integrally formed with a trim member, the flexible projection can be used to wipe moisture and debris from the slide-out room and have an extended life.

[0017]Yet another advantage is that by providing an interior trim member and an exterior trim member have an overlapped portion, both of the trim members can be simultaneously secured to the wall by driving a mechanical fastener through the overlapped portions of the trim members.

Problems solved by technology

When such vehicles are parked, however, their width is no longer limited and it becomes desirable to enlarge the useable space within the vehicle.

These sealing members generally perform adequately immediately following their installation but are subject to loosening and, over time, will oftentimes separate from the surface on which they are attached and fail to provide an adequate seal.

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